How Difficult Change Really is!

As the former US president Woodrow Wilson famously said, “If you want to make enemies, try to change something.”

Submitted: April 25, 2017

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Submitted: April 25, 2017

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"You still have plans to change the system?"

"Well, I have rather changed myself."

***

As the former US president Woodrow Wilson had famously said, “If you want to make enemies, try to change
something.”

We hear the word ‘Change’ so often that it has now become a cliché which most people do not take seriously and
simply disregard when someone claims to make a positive change to the society or an ailing system.

However, if the aforesaid statement did actually come from the President of the United
States then one wonders as to there must be something potent about the process of bringing the 'Change'.

There are two extreme or opposite scenarios on the control continuum that are noted below to elucidate the
degree of difficulty encountered in effecting the change, and they are;

A controlled environment where almost all the variables can be influenced to a great extent, like a laboratory
setting where the process of change can be initiated, monitored, modified and controlled.

An open and hostile environment where most of the variables are beyond control and where there are restraining
forces that ferociously nullify any efforts to introduce change as it directly challenges the forces of the Status quo and dilutes their grip on the system. A setup controlled by
groups, say some some mafia organizations or countries in certain cases.

Let us examine the two scenarios at length with some variations to comprehend the drivers, core issues,
exponential rise in the degree of resistance as the element of controls loosens, apply those scenarios to current situations and offer recommendations for both parties, those who want to make
the change and those who are affected by it.

The study of the process of change in a lab environment does not require any greater explanation as it is almost
fully controlled and deviations as such would be negligible. As you start moving towards the other extreme, the degree of control goes down and the process becomes more and more difficult to
regulate.

An example could be to monitor an order processing activity where the customer places an order, makes payment
and takes delivery. Now if you want to change the process say from manual to automated order processing system then you can do it by executing the change in a planned manner. Like
launching a new online system, imparting training to staff and helping customers to get used to the new process.

Such initiatives are easy to execute as there are systems and procedures in place, skilled workers with
necessary tools and training are at their disposal, a common direction, predefined KPI's, process checklist, supervision and various organizational controls and tools are there to oversee progress
and correct mistakes as soon as they occur, thus making the system more robust and reliable.

The people within such setup are aligned, are under control and it is easy to ensure that the process runs
smoothly. The key is that there is a well-defined structure of organizational hierarchy with executive powers for the sole purpose of achieving targets and keeping their journey on track.This
example is somewhat closer to a laboratory environment.

Now take the other example with the premise that we are gradually reducing controls to gauge the increasing
degree of difficulty faced to induce change. At homes almost all people use television and the remote control device for switching channels.

Project: You as part of this project will try to convince your family members to fix a spot in
the room for remote control device where the tv is mounted or placed so that it can be easily found by anyone when needed. Try that and then grasp the fact that how difficult that effort
really is. Some would find it almost impossible to achieve that simple project milestone and even if you manage to succeed in the short term, you will most assuredly fail in the long run, even
if you are the sole occupant of the house you live in. The reason is that unlike the lab environment, the controls are weak in this case.

If you still disagree, give it a try!

The other extreme example could be an organization or country where bringing any positive change is almost
impossible as there are parallel groups exerting their influence to maintain control of their respective areas with vested interests involved, and the fact that the general population is
oblivious of their rights, is divided on account of sects and political affiliations and is completely dispersed and fragmented.

Countries like Pakistan and Afghanistan are appropriate examples of such a milieu. If we analyze the situation
of Pakistan for example, we see that there is one prominent political party which is struggling against the indomitable forces of the Status quo which have ruthlessly held the nation captive
in their inescapable grip since the country’s independence from the British Empire in 1947. From the perspective of controls and contrary to the lab setting case, this is virtually the other
extreme where introducing a positive change against the powerful forces of the Status quo is immensely difficult if not utterly impossible.

Pakistan has not been able to free itself from the grip of feudalism despite the fact that it is officially a
democracy but in true essence, it is still a feudal society where majority of its legislators hail from feudal background. Great majority of its people live under direct influence
of the feudal lords. They cannot take any action against the wishes of their landlords and are practically enslaved.

Their minds are not free. They live below the human subsistence level, are treated like animals by their
tormentors yet they unfortunately revere them. Since legislation is still under the auspices of the feudal lords who enjoy legitimate powers as well as tremendous illegal power with
absolutely no intention of sharing it with their people.

It is very interesting to note that those landowners vehemently advocate for democracy not for the sake of
their people but because it provides them a legal cover to hide behind the veil of democracy in order to continue with their filthy game of suppressing people under their illegitimate rule. In
other words, Pakistan is a State where there are many smaller states ruled by various landlords who not only aggressively defend their territories but work as a unified team in view of any
threats, like in current scenario the emergence of PTI.

PTI (Pakistan Tehreek e Insaaf) is a political party which I deem as a movement that has been struggling to
dismantle a gargantuan and complex web of corruption and incompetence which has gripped the country in its iron tentacles. The biggest challenge the party faces is not from the joint
opposition that comprises the land grabbers, feudal lords, corrupt politicians, immoral bureaucracy, dishonest religious leaders and anti-state elements but unfortunately from the common and
collective ignorance of the people of Pakistan.

Like I mentioned earlier, most of the people live under direct influence of feudal lords and they are
in reality mental slaves. Lack of education and religious ignorance has worsened that fear and added to their misery and helplessness. They are like souls entrapped by devil without realizing
that the bond of slavery is unreal and does not actually exist.

A minority of population lives in the urban areas with access to the social media network. They are
reasonably educated people and mostly support the reformist groups, but despite their independence and enlightenment through education, reading and open discussions, they are outnumbered and
technically speaking, the country’s future is decided by the collective ignorance of its people.

That is a main reason why the absolutely corrupt political and religious so called elite keep education
deliberately out of their focus. They are fully cognizant of the fact that if the people somehow manage to acquire education then they will see the truth, will learn about their
true intent and will then part ways which they don’t want and will never allow at any cost unless the tide turns against them. In that case, they will behave like skittish
animals.

Recommendations:

PTI should focus more on the rural areas. The weightage of their efforts should reflect the rural: urban
split. 70 percent of efforts for the rural areas so that their party workers should actually go out and frequently interact with the people in villages and far flung areas.

Most of their efforts should be focused on the Punjab, Balochistan and the KPK provinces.

People living in cities should interact with those living in the rural areas and educate them about the
stark reality. One simple way of doing that is to educate their household employees as most hail from villages.

PTI should not use words like ‘corruption’ but they should use words like ‘theft’ because
that is what the common people understand and they should stress on how bad it is both from the social as well as from a religious perspective.

Volunteers should tell people living in villages that they are FREE. That they have same
rights as their feudal lords or their inglorious rulers enjoy.

Inculcate self-respect in people, contrary to their belief that they alone cannot make any
change.

Utilize radio as much as possible because it is still an effective tool for communication in the
remote areas.

Support judiciary so they feel empowered against the forces of evil which is basically the
Status quo group. That also encourages the silent majority to stand up and raise their voice.

If my enemy supports the one I see as my friend then he perhaps is not my friend. Convince voters to see
things as they are and not as they are shown to them.

Bradari system is a BIG curse and people should elect candidates on merit. Convince them that it is
against the social norms and religious teachings.

A thief must be detested and treated as a thief. That must be the ONLY
approach.

Supporting a thief is against the teachings of God.

Supporting a thief is like committing theft which is a great sin and also a crime.

If you vote for a thief then you are a partner in crime. Simple as that.

We are a decent and civilized nation and we vehemently detest and condemn those who steal our
money, resources and deprive our children of a prosperous future. This should be the key message.

P.S. The purpose of quoting the example of Pakistan is to let readers know about the process of change in
an extremely difficult set up so they are able to relate. This perhaps is the most difficult case from a change perspective.